By Chukwuma Umeorah
As part of its All Africa Service Project, the Church of Latter-day Saints on Saturday donated blood to the Mother and Child Hospital in Festac.
Attracting over 100 donors, the initiative was aimed at raising awareness about voluntary blood donations in the country and addressing the critical need for blood supply in hospitals while fostering a spirit of community service.
The Church also conducted a community cleanup within the area which saw active participation from church members and collaboration with local government agencies.
The President of the Lagos-Nigeria Festac Stake of the Church, Ugochukwu Bennigh, noted that the activities were part of a broader initiative across Africa.
He highlighted the significance stating, “We are preaching love to humanity, that service to man is service to God. Once a year, the church in Africa sets aside this day for members to come together to clean their communities. This activity is happening all over Africa.”
Chief Medical Lab Scientist at Mother and Child Hospital, Omowunmi Oluwatosin, emphasized the life-saving impact of such donations.
“When people donate blood, they save lives,” she stated. Oluwatosin noted that the church’s yearly involvement in blood donation has become a crucial lifeline for the hospital, particularly during periods when blood supplies run low.
“At times, we run out of blood, but when they call us to come, they are saving lives,” she said, underscoring the significance of these contributions.
The blood donation exercise was meticulously organized to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Oluwatosin detailed the rigorous screening process that each donor underwent, “including blood pressure checks, weight measurements, and the assessment of packed cell volume (PCV), which must be at least 39 per cent for a safe donation.
“Following these preliminary tests, donors are further screened for viral markers such as hepatitis, syphilis, and HIV to guarantee the safety of the donated blood.”
Oluwatosin further encouraged the public to donate blood at least three times a year, particularly for males.
“Donating blood reduces your blood pressure, renews your bone marrow, and helps you live longer,” she added.
One of the blood donors, Tokoni Egbunu, expressed delight in participating and urged the public to make regular donations to boost blood banks in hospitals.
The clean-up exercise which took place earlier was supported by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), which provided waste evacuation services.
Adebowale Samuel, from LAWMA’s Advocacy Department, commended the church’s initiative, noting that the agency is always eager to support activities that promote environmental cleanliness.
“For all MDAs, NGOs, organizations, churches that embark on clean-ups like this, we are always eager to support them like you see we make arrangements for trash bags, then our trucks to come and help them evacuate the waste.”